A Cleveland police official says police believe the recent slayings of two transgender women were motivated by hate.

Deputy chief Ed Tomba spoke at a Sunday forum called by advocates of Cleveland’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. He says federal authorities would have to decide whether to try the cases under hate crime law, but police are calling them “crimes of hate.”

Police have no suspects and don’t believe the same person is responsible for the two slayings earlier this month.

A disabled, transgender woman was found slain at an assistant living care facility. Another transgender woman was shot in the head in a vehicle.

The activists stressed the need for more education about transgender women and men.

City officials say the Columbus Diocese could have violated a Columbus ordinance that protects employees from discrimination when it fired a gay teacher for her sexuality. WOSU reports city law does not exempt religious employers from discriminatory practices.

When Carla Hale, 57, received her termination letter from Bishop Watterson Principal Marian Hutson, Hale said she was in, “total shock. Like your legs had just been cut out from under you.â€

The letter was from the Columbus Diocese and signed by Hutson.

â€œI turned to the principal and I said, â€˜Are we talking like immediately? Am I supposed to leave the building?â€™ And she just, she said, â€˜Yes.â€™â€

That was March 28, and Hale hasnâ€™t been back since.

Hale is gay. And she said that is the reason the Columbus Diocese fired her, for what it said was a violation of moral law.

An anonymous letter, along with Haleâ€™s motherâ€™s obituary, was sent to the Diocese in February. Haleâ€™s same-sex partner was listed in the obit.

Hale, a 19-year health and physical education teacher at Watterson, said she did not discuss her sexual orientation with colleagues. She said only a few close co-workers knew. And for nearly 20 years, there was never a problem.

Hale called the anonymous letter cowardly.

â€œTo use my momâ€™s obituary, her death, to write this letter. And, honestly, we wouldnâ€™t be in this situation if it wasnâ€™t for her death, nor if my partnerâ€™s name was Chris.â€

During the past couple of days some 7,000 Hale supporters â€“ current students, alumni, others who support gay rights â€“ have signed an online petition asking Bishop Watterson to reinstate Hale.

2010 Watterson graduate Michael Liggett remembered Hale fondly. Liggett said he was â€œshockedâ€ and â€œdisgustedâ€ when he learned why his former teacher was fired.

â€œCoach Hale was a highly respected member of the staff,” he said. “She was greatly loved by her students, and just an overall woman of wonderful integrity.â€

Natalie Theado, who graduated from Bishop Watterson in 1998, also signed the petition. Theado called Hale a caring and good person. Theado said she never thought about Haleâ€™s sexual orientation.

â€œWhat does it matter at the end of the day, you know? I mean, we are all people just trying to make it in this world,” Theado said.

Hale spoke positively of Bishop Watterson, its staff and its students. And she has filed a grievance with the Diocese, asking to get back her job.

â€œAt this point in time, thatâ€™s all Iâ€™m hoping for.â€

But if Hale isnâ€™t reinstated, she has other options. She can ask for the city to investigate whether the Diocese violated a city ordinance which protects employees from discrimination including sexual orientation.

Napoleon Bell, who directs Columbusâ€™ Community Relations Commission, said religious employers are not exempt from the city ordinance.

â€œThere is not that exemption,” Bell said. “It applies to any agency or business that employs four people or more.â€

If the commission found discrimination, it would turn the case over to the city attorneyâ€™s office.

And Haleâ€™s attorney, Tom Tootle, said a judge could order the Diocese to reinstate her.

â€œIf the school doesnâ€™t do the right thing itâ€™s certainly conceivable that we could file a complaint with the community relations commission,” Tootle said.

Bishop Watterson school officials and the Diocese declined comment for this story.

Watterson alum Liggett wants to see Hale get her job back. But if not, he said he hopes her firing generates a dialogue about LGBT educators.

â€œThey are still individuals of the utmost integrity and really display the true foundations and goals of Watterson and the Catholic school system.â€

Hale said she does not think the Catholic Church is ready for the conversation Liggett wants, but she said it has to start somewhere.

â€œAs most changes take place, it has to be the younger generation stepping up,” Hale said. “And theyâ€™ve obviously shown great tolerance and love and support. And so, itâ€™s a step.â€

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2013/04/18/watterson-teacher-wants-job-back-thats-all-im-hoping-for/feed/102Bishop Watterson High School,Carla Hale,Columbus Diocese,gay rights,LGBTCity officials say the Columbus Diocese could have violated a Columbus ordinance that protects employees from discrimination when it fired a gay teacher for her sexuality. WOSU reports city law does not exempt religious employers from discriminatory pr...City officials say the Columbus Diocese could have violated a Columbus ordinance that protects employees from discrimination when it fired a gay teacher for her sexuality. WOSU reports city law does not exempt religious employers from discriminatory practices.WOSU Newsno3:53Final Issue Of ‘The Other Paper’ Hits Newsstandshttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2013/01/31/final-issue-of-the-other-paper-hits-newsstands/
http://wosu.org/2012/news/2013/01/31/final-issue-of-the-other-paper-hits-newsstands/#commentsThu, 31 Jan 2013 12:18:26 +0000Steve Brownhttp://wosu.org/2012/news/?p=43097

After 23 years of snark, sarcasm and serious news stories, The Other Paper releases its final issue today.

Since it was founded 23 years, The Other Paper has never been shy about addressing anything. Itâ€™s taken on local news anchors, featured a popular column called “That’s So Gay” about the LGBT scene called, and broken plenty of serious stories. That all ends today as the paperâ€™s final issue hits newsstands.

For a look back, WOSU’s Steve Brown spoke with Other Paper founding editor Danny Russell. Click the play button above to hear their conversation.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2013/01/31/final-issue-of-the-other-paper-hits-newsstands/feed/0alternative weekly,columbus,columbus dispatch,dispatch,LGBT,newspapers,The Other PaperAfter 23 years of snark, sarcasm and serious news stories, The Other Paper releases its final issue today.After 23 years of snark, sarcasm and serious news stories, The Other Paper releases its final issue today.WOSU Newsno4:12Ending Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Raises More Questionshttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/05/20/ending-dont-ask-dont-tell-raises-more-questions/
http://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/05/20/ending-dont-ask-dont-tell-raises-more-questions/#commentsFri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000Debbie Holmeshttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/05/20/ending-dont-ask-dont-tell-raises-more-questions/The repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell is on track to take full effect among military troops in the fall. Training for a new policy allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military is underway. But, some are concerned not enough is being done to bring equality within the troops.

]]>The repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is on track to take full effect among military troops in the fall. Training for a new policy allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military is underway. But, some are concerned not enough is being done to bring equality within the troops.

After 28 years as a Navy Officer, Robert Haas retired. Haas who is gay, served as a commander in the Navy Supply Corps that fed, clothed, housed and transported cargo for the armed forces. He never revealed his sexual orientation while in the military, but he says some of his fellow troops knew.

“It was easier for me to hide things in the 70′s, and now everything is on Facebook. There’s Twitter. You put pictures out there, they follow you wherever you go,” explained Haas.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates oversees a three part plan on ending Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. The plan will overhaul applicable military personnel policy and benefits, provide training for top brass and military chaplains and formally instruct the troops on the ban’s repeal. Military officials in central Ohio confirmed that they have been holding training sessions at recruiting centers for their employees. They declined to provide details and refused a request for an interview.

Army Captain Scott Lee who works in military recruiting efforts in Columbus says regardless of the end of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, he will continue to quote “treat everyone with dignity and respect.”

Retired Navy Officer Haas says he also wants everyone to be treated equally.

“We just have to make sure that the military understands that no one is trying to put an agenda on them. Let everybody do their job,” Haas said.

Resistance to ending the ban on gays has been coming not from the troops, but from members of Congress. The House Armed Services Committee passed amendments last week that could delay repeal of the ban. The amendments if passed bar members of the armed forces and Department of Defense employees from assisting or performing same-sex marriages; and restate language within the Defense of Marriage Act to include members of the armed forces.

“These amendments to delay and derail repeal which is really what they would do are quite frankly nothing more than a partisan political attempt to interject the same sex marriage debate and other unrelated social issues into the defense spending bill where they quite frankly have no place,” Stokes said.

Stokes adds without benefits for spouses, gay, lesbian and bisexual service people will still face discrimination.

“If spouses aren’t recognized and or adopted children of those spouses or biological children of those spouses are not recognized, that could have a direct impact on my ability to access federal or military housing,” said Stokes.

Retired Navy Officer Haas has many questions.

“Are they going to recognize a male partner in the military as a partner, a spouse or not? That’s the question,” Haas said.

President Obama since taking office two years ago, has expanded federal rights and benefits for gays and lesbians who work as civilians within the government. How far those rights will extend to gays in the military has not been determined. Last week, civilian workers at the Defense Supply Center Columbus in Whitehall began to take on-line training in preparation for the end of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

Under the repeal statute the ban will be overturned 60 days after the president, the secretary of defense, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all certify that repeal will not affect the recruitment, retention, or readiness of the U.S. military.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/05/20/ending-dont-ask-dont-tell-raises-more-questions/feed/0LGBT,militaryThe repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell is on track to take full effect among military troops in the fall. Training for a new policy allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military is underway. But,The repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell is on track to take full effect among military troops in the fall. Training for a new policy allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military is underway. But, some are concerned not enough is being done to bring equality within the troops.WOSU Newsno3:22